India, Oct. 11 -- There was massive hype ahead of the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead in Durban. There were reasons. This was Australia's first Test tour of South Africa since the Sandpapergate in 2018. Cameron Bancroft, in complicity with then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, used sandpaper to tamper with the ball so as to assist pacers with reverse swing in the third and final Test. Unfortunately for them and the entire Aussie team, he was caught on camera, and all hell broke loose thereafter. The three players were banned for varied durations.

The whole controversy was discussed at length in the global media ahead of the Kingsmead showdown. The Aussies were expected to get hell from spectat...